Well, I was watching the kids all last week and did not get time to continue the report until now. But back on track, again!

Still in SIN

So, it's getting a little late, but I'm still ready to hit the city. I shower, change, and head to the front desk to change $40 and I'm off. Ask the doorman where the action is. He says no problem, shouts something to a cabbie and I'm off. Where to? Orchard something (turns out it was the red light district). Not the greatest area, but I walk around and chat with the girls for a bit, pop my head into a few restaurants/nightclubs. I decide that it's nothing I haven't seen before, jump a cab and head back to the hotel - Alone - and happy about it.

Hit the pillow about 1am or so. Set 2 alarms for about 4am and drift away instantly.

I'm surprised at how early morning comes, but up and out before too long. The Conrad has slipped a account balance under the door, and I notice a restaurant charge, so head down to ask about it.

They have a coffee setup by the front desk, and it's really good at this time in the morning. The gentlimen in line ahead of me are checking out, I sugest we split a cab to the airport and they agree Now, it's my turn, I ask about the charges. She says it's my breakfast from the morning before, but before I can open my mouth, she reverses it. I think there was a charge for room tax. I asked about it and it's reversed as quickly. I still don't know if I was supposed to pay the tax. I think not and was just asking, But she wasn't prepared to talk about it. Happily removed. It's at this point I ask about the slippers from the room (I'd asked at the gift shop the night before and she quoted me $5). Yes, I took the slippers home for my wife. She dissapears into the back room, comes back and announces they are $2, prints up a bill for me and I'm off. Great job, Conrad. I'll be back!

Changi, Changi

Drive to the airport seems longer, but only cause it's so quiet on the road, I guess. Split the fare and hunt the UA counter. Quite busy here, Coach is lined up, so is business, etc. I takes a while to moooove (feeling like a sheep, there's a line of us) up to the counter. It's apparent that everyone in this line is seeking an upgrade (mine hasn't cleared either). But she still want's my upgrade cert. I ask, if I'm turning it over, is there anyway to confirm me at this point? NO! OK, so it's SIN-NRT in Y, NRT-HNL in C, HNL-LAX in F, and LAX-JFK in C. I guess I can surrender a cert for that. You betcha!

She asks how I'm upgrading the LAX-JFK and I point out that the layover in LAX is less than a few hours. Hmmm, she says and dissapears. Now tell me why my checkins are always 45 miutes long? Everytime! Here she is, yes sir. No problem, here's your boarding passes through to JFK. COOL! And a Stats lounge invitation, too!

Through customs and stuff, I find the Stats lounge. Get through and grab an Ice cream and a few munchies. The fellow next to me is stuffing goodies in his bag. I just look over and smile. Grab an extra one for myself too. Good idea. "Never get too comfortable until your upgrade has cleared", my conscience tells me. So off to work my magic (or so I think).

Transit counter close to the gate is open very limited hours, but since the UA flights are still here, there still doing business. I ask about my upgrade and am told the usuall. So I try the alternate routing angle. Can I go through HKG, to NRT? Is there Business Class on thes flights? Sorry, sir we've closed that flight. But, yes there was space in C.

But the flight's still there!!! I'm pointing to the gate, just around the corner from us. But they're still boarding it!!!

Anyone who has been to Asia knows how strict they are on rules. We close the flight 30 minutes before departure. 6 minutes! I missed it by six minutes. Sir the flight is closed, really means too bad buster! I can't believe I went for coffee and ice cream in the lounge, and missed my upgrade chance by 6 minutes :

SIN has these boarding areas where once you go in. You are seperated, by glass from re-entering the general area. They have these sniffer's (like a handheld vaccuum). I guess they sniff for explosives. Nice that you don't have to open your bag. He opens is a crack, presses down on the bag to push out some air and 'sniffs' with his detector. Next to the metal detector and secondary search, and finally through the gate agents counter, where you are checked into your seat and wait in the boarding area. I ask about an upgrade once more, "as I've already given my SWU". So sorry, they say. It doesn't look good! But very nice about it.

I'm sitting close to the desk to watch what's going on. VERY busy, as guests check in, upgrades clear. And many still not getting the fact that upgrade is not clearing, so constant pax requesting for various reasons. Sitting next to me is a nice couple. A UA agent approaches this lady and asks her to follow along. I ask the fellow next to me. It's his wife, she left the boarding area to use the washroom, and they've already questioned her about it several times.

Sterilizing the Boarding Area aka Everybody out

PA ANNOUNCEMENT. Will everyone for UA flight 890 please clear the boarding area. We have had a security breach. I guess they frown on leaving the area. All 350 of us are cleared out, and I overhear the agents talking. They are unboarding (whatever you call it) everyone and check them in again one by one. I look at the line, realize there's no rush, so I take off to check out some Changi window shopping. 20 minutes later I return, with postcards, to a short line, and we're through the metal detector and bomb sniffer within a few minutes.

April 19 UA 890
SIN-NRT in Y - seat 40H

One thing about the 747 E+ is the likelyhood that a 1K will be sitting next to you. Very thankfull to see an asian fellow as my seatmate and the middle blocked as he's obiously 1K, <phew>

We leave the gate about an hour late and were off. Good flight, great crew. Constant water service in Y. Very nice. Fellow beside me does about 180k/year. We don't start talking until about halfway through the flight. He flies so much. Has full fare tickets unused, several, expiring as he's travelling so much, he can't use them to rebook. Amazing conversation. Another loyal customer, quite frustrated with UA. *Note to any UA lurkers - If possible to check the flight record for this fellow (row 40 window). Nice guy, getting the shaft. High revenue. Worth keeping.

I forget if we get a jetway in NRT (I think we do). We're late getting in, but I'm not worried. My flight to NRT doesn't leave until 8pm

T.B.C. (to be continued)